THIS WOMAN, Mrs. Ethel Garvey, claims to be the mother of Charles Manson, leader of the “family” accused of the Tate-Labianca murders. Manson has said his mother abandoned him when he was a child and he was forced to live with relatives in West Virginia.

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 6 – A woman claiming to be Charles Manson’s mother yesterday contributed to the sideshow aspect of the Tate-LaBianca murder trial.

The woman, who identified herself as Mrs. Ethel Garvey, was heckled by members of Manson’s “family.” They claimed she was lying.

Mrs. Garvey refused to answer questions by newsmen outside the courtroom about Manson or their short life together.

Manson has said his mother abandoned him when he was a child and he was forced to live with relatives in West Virginia. He later began serving a series of terms in juvenile homes, reformatories and, eventually, prison.

Mrs. Garvey, a bleached blonde with blue eyes, appeared to be in her 40s. Manson, however, is 35.

She claimed she came to the Hall of Justice, where the trial is being held, to see Manson, but she admitted, “He wouldn’t know me if he had to.”

Newsmen asked her the whereabouts of Manson’s father. The cult leader supposedly was illegitimate.

Mrs. Garvey answered, “I’m thinking maybe he should be here instead of me.”

Manson follower Sandy Good scoffed at Mrs. Garvey’s claim, explaining that Manson once described his mother as petite and under 5 feet tall. Mrs. Garvey is between 5 feet 4 and 5 feet 6 inches tall.